Forks And Sol Duc Day Trip

Small Group: Olympic Park & Forks Day Trip From Seattle runs through Jupiter Legend Corporation. Rated 4.8 across 14 reviews. Runs 1 day. From $255.

The park service has shut Mora Road at the campground, so Rialto Beach stays out of reach by car, and the operator confirms the day's route at booking.

Overview

This day trip leaves Seattle by ferry, crossing to Bainbridge Island before the long drive out to the Olympic Peninsula and Forks, the town the Twilight saga made famous. The crossing is a fixed part of the route, not an optional extra, and it frames the whole day: you start and finish on the water.

In Forks the tour allows about an hour of free time, which doubles as the lunch window. Twilight props and costumes are on display in town, Bella's truck sits ready for photos, and a self-guided string of Twilight stops can be pieced together on foot. From there the route pushes into Olympic National Park, passing through on the way to Rialto Beach, a filming location for the Twilight movies, where giant driftwood and sea stacks line a rugged stretch of the Pacific coast. The final park stop is Sol Duc Falls, reached on a rainforest hike beneath Douglas firs and hemlocks, before the return drive and the ferry back to Seattle.

Twilight fans will find plenty aimed at them here, from the movie props to the filming locations along the coast. Beyond that, the tour packs rainforest, coast and waterfall into a single day of guided travel in a 12 or 15 passenger van, with park entrance fees covered. The trade-off is simple: a lot of sitting between short walks.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. Pickup in SeattleHotel or listed pickup points are offered, with 12 pickup locations across Seattle and nearby areas. Check the live booking page to confirm your hotel.
2. Ferry to Bainbridge IslandThe Seattle to Bainbridge Island crossing takes 45 mins and is a mandatory part of the route.
3. Forks visit and lunchOne hour in Forks, including lunch time. Lunch is optional and at extra cost, and the stop also covers free time for the Twilight sights around town.
4. Olympic National ParkThe tour passes through Olympic National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on the way to the coast.
5. Rialto BeachA 30 minute stop at this Twilight filming location, with driftwood, sea stacks and the rugged Pacific coastline.
6. Sol Duc Falls hikeThe hiking trail to the falls takes 1 hour, winding through temperate rainforest.
7. Return ferry to SeattleThe route returns via Bainbridge Island, where the ferry crossing back to Seattle takes 45 mins and is mandatory.
8. Drop-offThe tour finishes at 12 drop-off locations in Seattle and nearby areas.

What To Expect From The Tour

This is a long day with a fair amount of road time and short walks at each stop, so a little preparation goes a long way.

• Pack for rain. Forks is described in the listing as the rainiest town in the contiguous United States, and rain gear is on the operator's bring list.
• Bring food and water. Water, granola bars and picnic lunches are not included. Lunch can be bought at the scheduled stop or packed in advance, so travellers with specific tastes should bring their own.
• Expect a long day. The ferry crossings alone account for 45 mins each way, on top of the driving across the peninsula.
• Wear walking shoes. Sol Duc Falls is reached on a hiking trail through the rainforest, and Rialto Beach means time outdoors on a rugged stretch of coastline. Comfortable shoes are on the operator's bring list for good reason.
• Cash for tips. Gratuities are not included, with a suggested amount of $15 to $20. Cash is listed among the things to bring.
• Small van, small group. Transport is a 12 or 15 passenger van, so the group stays compact. One reviewer's group was only four people, though actual numbers will vary by date.

Common issues. The day is long, with a lot of driving between relatively short stops, and several reviewers said so directly. One reviewer reported that not every stop mentioned in the itinerary was included and that some gift shop stops felt rushed, while another was disappointed by Forks itself even though they enjoyed the rest of the day. The Seattle to Bainbridge Island ferry fare, food, water and gratuities are all extra. Pets and smoking are not allowed, travellers under 18 must be accompanied by at least one adult, and the tour does not accept City Pass or personally held attraction tickets.

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